Budding Attraction (Divorced Men's Club, #3)

by Saxon James

“You know, most people at least try to hide when they’re eye-fucking someone.”

“I’m like herpes. Once you have me, there’s no turning back.” I chuckle as I walk away. “Do you hear yourself sometimes?” “All the time. I love the sound of my own voice.”

“Iusedtobeastripper.” Ford blinks at me. His mouth slowly inches open. “Come again?” “I used to be a—” “Oh no, I got that. I mean, I think I’m about to come again.” He pulls a face and reaches down between his legs. “Fuck me, that’s hot.”

Griff: So … date with Ford, huh? Orson: Dammit, Art! Ignore him. It was a date. Orson: WASN’T. I meant wasn’t. Payne: … Orson: I meant wasn’t! Fucking autocorrect. We just met up for dinner and kinks. Orson: DRINKS! Art: Oh, this is gold. Orson: You know what, I don’t need to explain myself.

I’m just stating up front that I’m banning all mention of body parts.” “But what if someone says they want balls in their flowers?” He points at a bunch where most of the flowers haven’t bloomed yet. “Those are buds. The stick part is a stem—if you call it a shaft, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

“I’m glad I came this morning.” And I can’t bring myself to respond to that with anything other than the truth. “Yeah, me too.” Ford’s smile turns wicked. “I didn’t realize you cared that much about my sex life.” Of course. “Should have known that’s what you meant.” “Uh-huh. And now I can check out your ass every time you bend over without getting boned up.” My head falls back on a laugh. “Still straight, Ford.” “Still gay, Orson.” I’ve been around more than enough queer men not to be uncomfortable by his flirting, but I never thought I’d actually enjoy it. “In that case, look all you want. But no touching.”

“How does he make you feel?” Thinking of Orson, picturing his face and the way my cheeks hurt whenever we’re together, makes my entire body prickle with awareness. “Alive.”

My competency kink is in full overdrive that my florist slash stripper can talk cars with Taylor and hold his own.

“You really inviting me to touch you?” “Do you want to?” I sneer. “That’s like asking a thirsty man if he wants water.”

Flowers are there when you’re born, they’re there for anniversaries and milestones, and they’re there again when you die. I like the idea of being a very, very small part of that.”

“Do you want to be friends, or do you want to marry the guy?” I flip him off. “Friends can make other friends laugh.” “It’s not your words, my man. It’s your face. You pregnant? Because you’re glowing.”

“You command a room. You’re confident and self-assured, even before I knew who you were. I paid attention when you were around. There’s something about you that had my attention. Made me want to keep looking.” I crack a smile and lean in. “Did it ever occur to you, sweetheart, that you’ve been attracted to me this whole time?”

He’s their quiet, and I’m their chaos. My grin widens as I think of us like that. Two parts working together.

I hope Orson knows your first love will always be cars. Nothing can compete with Darleen.” For years, I thought that was the case. Cars, work, volunteering here. It all made me happy. But now I have another piece to fit into my life, and he’s jumped in like I’ve always been waiting for him. Like the space was open and ready for him to walk into. Nothing could compete with my love of cars. But I get the feeling Orson wouldn’t try to. And as I watch him laughing with one of the littlies, I also know … well, he wouldn’t have to.

He’s the calming breath you take before a deep dive, the first gulp of water after a long run, the low rumble of a V8 engine right before it accelerates. Everything about him has set up camp in my chest and lit a warm fire that refuses to go out. If this isn’t love, I don’t think I’ll survive the real thing. It can’t get much better than this.

“My ass hurts,” I grumble as I watch Ford cook. His deep chuckle makes his shoulders bounce. “Yeah, I got you good. The name Whorson suits you.”

“That was … that was …” Nope. Still nothing. “The first fuck of the rest of our lives.” I laugh into his shoulder as he wraps his big arms around me. “Let’s see them put that one on a Hallmark card.”